Submit And Resist

By Chad McComas

From Adam and Eve down to us the problem with all mankind is the refusal to submit to the Lord’s authority. We have and still do want to do things our way. We like the idea of being in charge even if we are only fooling ourselves that we are.

In his book, James shares how to live as strong believers. He talks about facing trials with joy, asking for wisdom, listening more than speaking, control of the tongue, doing what the Word says rather than just listening to it, faith and deeds, healing and of all things…submission!

“Submit yourselves, then to God.” James 4:7

Easy to say…seems simple enough. Just Let God be in charge. He calls the shots. He has the last say. He makes the call. I submit to His leading, His Will, His Word, His Way. I listen to His view and follow His path. He’s the pilot. I’m the passenger. He’s the Chief. I’m the Indian. He’s the general. I’m the soldier. He’s the King. I’m the citizen of the Kingdom.

When we submit to God we no longer submit to anyone or anything else. Jesus told us we can only have one master. (See Matthew 6) There is only room for one sheriff in Dodge City. So, if we are going to submit to God we need to stop submitting to God’s arch enemy.

Perhaps that’s why James tells us in the next sentence: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Satan doesn’t stick around when we submit ourselves to God and resist him. He can’t. He no longer has any control over us. He has lost his influence. He is no longer welcome.

Submitting to God allows us to resist the devil. It enables us to stand against his ways, his ideas, his temptations, his lies. He has no power over us. He can’t sway our opinion.

When we submit to God we focus on God…we can’t focus on the devil.

As believers we can’t submit to and resist the same power at the same time. It is an either/or experience. Either we are submitting to God or we are submitting to the devil. Either we are resisting the devil or we are resisting God. We can’t do both.

Jeremiah tells us: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:40 If we discover that we are not truly submitting to the Lord…we need to make a decision who we will submit to. It’s our choice! That’s the freedom God has given each of us.

Oh…Paul suggests in Ephesians 5:21 that we need to learn to submit to each other. But that will never happen until we can learn to submit to God. When that takes place we are able to humble ourselves and learn how to stop trying to control others.

Chad McComas writes from Medford, Oregon. info@thechristianjournal.org